The Suzuki Choinori was a small scooter built from 2003 to 2007 for short trips and errands. Everything about it was pared back to keep the price down, from the number of plastic parts and bolts to the rear suspension, which it did not have at all.
Suzuki Choinori at a glance
| Production | 2003–2007 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 49 cc pushrod OHV single |
| Engine detail | aluminium, linerless bore with high-speed plating |
| Rear suspension | none, axle bolted to the frame |
| Purpose | short-distance commuting and errands |
| Name | from ‘choi nori’, a short ride, the opposite of ‘toh nori’ |
| Special version | Choinori SS, 2004 |
| Built in | Japan, then Taiwan from 2005 |
| Recognition | one of the 240 Landmarks of Japanese Automotive Technology |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Suzuki Choinori.
History of the Suzuki Choinori
Less of everything
The Choinori was conceived as a short-distance scooter for commuting and running errands; its name comes from ‘choi nori’, a short hop, as opposed to ‘toh nori’, the long ride. Suzuki minimised materials, especially plastic parts and threaded fasteners. A new 49 cc pushrod OHV engine was designed for it, with an aluminium block and a linerless bore plated by a high-speed process that cut both cost and weight. The rear axle was bolted straight to the frame, with no rear suspension. The result was a scooter advertised at a lower price than Suzuki’s contemporary electric bicycle.
Problems and the SS
The engine’s cam followers turned out to have a design fault, which Suzuki fixed by redesigning them. In 2004 the Choinori SS appeared: mechanically the same, but with a headstock cover instead of a leg shield, a different handlebar and indicators moved onto the bars.
The end
Production moved from Japan to Taiwan in 2005 and stopped in 2007, when the engine could no longer meet new emissions standards. The Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan later named the Choinori one of the 240 Landmarks of Japanese Automotive Technology.
Design and features
- Radical simplicity: very few plastic parts and fasteners.
- Linerless plated bore: a cheap, light aluminium engine.
- No rear suspension: the axle is fixed directly to the frame.
- Very low price: cheaper than Suzuki’s electric bicycle.
Suzuki Choinori versions
- Choinori (2003): the standard short-hop scooter.
- Choinori SS (2004): headstock cover, different bars, indicators on the handlebar.
Suzuki’s other small scooters include the Let’s and the Gemma. More Suzukis are in the Suzuki collection.
Sources
- Suzuki Choinori, English Wikipedia: design, engine, history
